Rose plant named &#39;RNF Purple 01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct rose plant having a strong fragrance and pale purple-colored flowers.

Botanical classification: Rosa L.

Varietal denomination: ‘RNF Purple 01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of rose plant known by the varietal name ‘RNF Purple 01’. The new variety was discovered in April of 2010 in Gifu, Japan. The new variety is the result of a planned breeding program between an unpatented Rosa L. variety named ‘Blue Moon’ (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Rosa Rugosa variety (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. ‘RNF Purple 01’ differs from its female parent in petal shape and the fact that the new variety has a fragrance, but ‘Blue Moon’ does not. Additionally, ‘RNF Purple 01’ exhibits a similar petal shape and existence of a fragrance to its male parent, but differs from its male parent in its actual fragrance and ‘RNF Purple 01’ has fewer thorns and more leaves. When ‘RNF Purple 01’ is compared to Rosa L. ‘Wish AI’ (currently unpatented in the U.S., Japanese Patent No. 21842), the varieties are similar in that they both exhibit a fragrance, lack eyes on the flowers, and are double-flowering in nature. The new variety differs from ‘Wish AI’ in petal color and shape and also exhibits a stronger fragrance than ‘Wish AI’. When generally compared to other rose varieties known to the breeder, the new variety differs in its strong fragrance, its type of fragrance, and in flower color. ‘RNF Purple 01’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of the blooms of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the new variety grown to a flowering plant;

FIG. 3 shows a view of multiple plants of the new variety; and

FIG. 4 shows the leaves of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected by asexual reproductions first performed via cuttings in May of 2011 carried out in Gifu, Japan. Plants of the new variety were grown in a greenhouse under natural light in 15 cm pots with peat moss substrate and with the assistance of heaters in the winter. The color readings and measurements were taken indoors in a greenhouse under natural light on one-year-old plants grown in containers. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 21-28 days at approximately             25° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 30-45 days at approximately 25°             C.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted             cutting.—About 5 months/20-22 weeks in a 15 cm container.         -   Rooting habit.—similar to standard roses.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Distance from media surface to top of foliage.—30-35 cm at             the end of production.         -   Distance from media surface to top of flowers.—35-40 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—Around 25 cm.         -   Vigor.—Average.         -   Strength (need for artificial support).—No artificial             support needed.         -   Branching characteristics.—Branching from bottom or lower             level.         -   Stem color.—Immature: N57A. Mature: 135C.         -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Similar to standard roses.             Older wood: Similar to standard roses.         -   Average stem diameter.—From 7 mm to 1 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 4 to 5 cm.         -   Number of internodes.—6 to 7.         -   Thorns.—Average number: Main branches: 70 per plant. Stems:             10 per stem. Length: 7 mm to 1 cm. Width: Around 5 mm.             Color: Immature: Red and beige (63C). Mature: Ivory/beige to             green. Shape: Similar to standard roses.         -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Alternate. Average number of leaves             per lateral branch: 7. Average number of leaflets per             leaf: 7. Overall size of leaf: Length: 10 cm. Width: 5 cm.             Leaflet: Shape of leaf (generally): Ovate and similar to             standard roses. Shape of apex: Acute and similar to standard             roses. Shape of base: Obtuse and similar to standard roses.             Length range: 5-7 cm. Width range: 3-5 cm. Texture: Similar             to standard roses. Margin type: Serrate and similar to             standard roses. Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: 146B.             Lower surface: 68C. Mature leaves: Upper surface: 137A.             Lower surface: 132D. Veins: Venation type: Pinnate and             similar to standard roses. Color: 127A. Petiole: Length:             2-3 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm. Color: 137D with a hint of red.             Texture: Similar to standard roses. Stipule: None present. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Buds.—Number of buds per plant: 10. Number of buds per             flowering stem: 2. Shape of individual bud: Napiform and             similar to standard roses. Length of individual bud:             1.5-2 cm. Width of individual bud: 8 mm to 1 cm. Bud color:             Green with red (58B).         -   Natural flowering season at specified location.—End of April             to May in Gifu, Japan.         -   Average number of flowers per year at specified location.—10             to 15.         -   Flowering habit.—Continuous and freely flowering.         -   Flower description.—2 or more flowers and bloom like a             bunch.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower on the plant.—10 days to             2 weeks.         -   Lastingness of a cut flower.—1 week.         -   Flower.—General appearance: Double flowering rose. Shape:             Round and mounded. Diameter: 8-10 cm. Height: 3-4 cm.         -   Petals.—Color: Upper and lower surfaces (when opening): 84C.             Upper and lower surfaces (fully opened): 84C. Shape:             Rounded. Length: 4-5 cm. Width: 5-6 cm. Apex shape: Round             with a wide lip. Base shape: Round and narrow. Margin:             Entire. Number per flower: 25-35. Texture: Soft and similar             to standard rose petals. Reflex characteristics: None.             Presence of basal petal spots: None. Petaloid description:             Lightly fringed with semi-double flowering.         -   Sepals.—Color: Upper and lower surfaces (when opening):             Green. Upper and lower surfaces (fully opened): Green.             Shape: Sharp. Length: 2-3 cm. Width: 8 mm to 1 cm. Apex             shape: Pointed. Base shape: Wide. Margin: Entire and tight,             when closed. Number per flower: 4-5. Texture: Similar to             standard roses.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 3-5 cm. Diameter: 3 mm. Texture: Similar to             standard roses. Strength: Strong. Color: 142C.         -   Peduncle color.—142C.         -   Receptacle.—Texture: Same as a standard Floribunda-type             rose. Shape: Same as a standard Floribunda-type rose.             Height: 5-7 mm. Width: 5-7 mm. Color: Green.         -   Fragrance.—Strong.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Average, nothing unusual noted to             date.         -   Winter temperature tolerance.—Blooming at 1° C. in winter.             With only roots, -15-18° C.         -   Hot temperature tolerance.—40° C.         -   Drought tolerance.—Average, nothing unusual noted to date.         -   Reproductive organs.—.         -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 50.Filament: Length: 7-10 mm.             Color: White. Anthers: Shape: Like a match stick. Length:             2-3 mm. Color: Light yellow/beige. Pollen: Color: 12A.             Amount (generally): Less than average.         -   Pistils.—Number: 50. Length: 1-2 mm. Style: Length: Average.             Color: Creamy yellow. Stigma: Shape: Similar to standard             roses. Color: Creamy yellow/beige. Size: 1 mm. Ovaries:             Length: 3 mm. Width: 0.5 mm. Color: White. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 